Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1887-10-29
Two PECULIAR COMMUNITIES.
Brief History OF Some soc,aiistic Ex.
r,.rI,nants In iowa


Brief History OF Some soc,aiistlc EA-
peri,nents In Iowa-
The Icarian community near Corning, H.,
has practically dissolved. Tho trouble was
that the younger members would not brook
the restraints imposed by tho laws and rules
of tho society The old men were stickers,
and too rigid in their Interpretation Of the
constitution, and tho young men rebelled.
Tho society had its origin i'll France and set
tlNl in Il body Mt Nauvoo, Ills, but moved to
the present location i'll 1854, before the organ
izntion of this section into counties. Tho
founder was Eticnne CADET. The society, un-
like most other comlnunistic bodies, has no
religious forms, believing that the essence of
religion exists rather i'll practice tlnm III
creed, tho membcls regarding Sunday as
day of amusement Although atheists, the
principal feature of the lcarian scheme is the
ono text of the New Testament, which under
lies all conlmunistic experiences, to bc found
in Acts ii, II, Is: "And all that believed
were together, and had all things in common;
and sold their possessions and goods and
parted them TO all men, as every man had
need"
For nearly generation rs time is measured
In Che life of man the lcariarS tlwelt happily
ami contcnted. Their property, farm of
5000 acres, was ow:ici i'll common. y ccun-
Gil of tho oldest mon controlled Affairs and
designated the work each person WAS to per
foria There was Little aSSociation.for many
years with the outside world The language
spoken was Erench and the old men weiN
slow in getting knowledge Of English. AS
already intin,ated, the Young lNoplo who
H,,x t,.N,>,
anxious Tor more nrogyNSSive methods and
ideas OF cou;sc the elders opposNl any i'll
;,ov..;in;, Of changes in plans or policy, and
tho differences OF opinion culiuiuate6 Sevelal
Years AZ, i'll y division Of property, tho old
members leaving the homestead to the chill
,;.>,,. while the elders SetcoS themselves Co a
new location halt mile Distant from the
original ;,cSt> The young people ii. she old
bone Kept tho OLD name. Tie lca:ian Conn
munity.- and the old !S,ople called their spills
now location built liter the old plan vi group
ing their cottages around square in the
center of which was 6 large build
ing used for lecture. amusement, din
ing and cooking purposes They be-
licve in the sacretlneSS of the mar
riaGe relation, and each family has its own
home, Int all eat together in the central
dining ROOM The elders took with them 10
their new homo largehbrary and II tine col
lection of instruments Tor scientific expert
lnents Among the older members were men
OF profound learning, and III the earlier days
OF their life here the lecture hail was the
scene of many q fine exposition OF scientific
subjects. Many of them, too. posses ed his
trioric talent, and Sunday evening was usl,-
oily given up to tie performance of some
theatrical play
When the split took place the older heads
took away forty or fifty persons, most of them
white haired, venerable Old people, whose
very appearance seems to provo that the
claim they make of living better and r.orc
advanced life than those OF the world around
then. is not a. together grouudless. They are
provcrhial for their politcnesS and demeanor
to each other and TO those with whom they.
come in contact. Tho young colony is anxious
to sell its land and so to California, where
good many of its members are already living.
Within Il few years at the most this remark
able experiment in communistic life will I've
only in history.
Iowa has one other communal society, tile
Inspirationists, Mt Amana, in Iowa county.
IElS SOGlet(, EONGNSit ~ iiNA, 40 pOSaS'SASiio
covering some $4,000 acres Of land, with
population exceeding l,5a0, divided into seven
villages. The people engage var.iously III
manufacturing and farming They have
several wcolen. SOW and grist mills and tan
neries, and their goods are staple articles IN
the market. Each family has its house, like
the Icarians, and all cook and cat together
in centrals. At the table, however, the men
and women ore separated ito prevent silly
conversation and triflng conduct" At the
head Of the organization is woman who is
supposed by the members to speak by tho
direct inspiration of Cod" Hence their
name They came from Germany to New
York state in 1912, and to Iowa in 1876.
The society owes its foundation to an ig
norapt servant maid, who for many years was
the INSPIRED oracle OF .Amana. Tho namc
Alnana is taken from the Song OF Solo
mon il, s. Though q woman founded the
society and is considered tho "oracle" through
whom come the commands of God, yet the
the women of the community orc required to
work hnrd, dress plainly and avoid associn-
ton with mankind, notwithstanding which
there are marriages and much domestic COM
fort aud happiness One Of their leading
writers advises men to .ly from intercourse
with women as very dangerous, magnetic
ead magical fire. Amusemeuts generally
tie forbidden; even photographs and pictures
ere not allowed Their rules Of daily life are
very strict and severe, enjoining abstinence,
pc: itence and deep devotion. This society is
successful financially, to say the least. The
members ore good citizens, pay their taxes,
avoid litigation, and if they find happiness in
complying with their rigid rules of govern
ment, who can say them nay2-Siouz City
Journal